Friday 29 April 2022

Battle!

 A quiet morning with an empty house presented the perfect opportunity to get the trusty folding card table out for a small game. It is of course the Crimean War and I'm playing a very simple game using a D6 activation roll and Commands & Colors basic rules on a square gridded board (75mm squares). The table is just 2'6" x 2'6" so a 10 x 10 grid dotted out in yellow. I had a couple of hours to play which seemed to fly by but gave me the opportunity to work a few things out as I went along.. Must say it all worked surprisingly well for an impromptu game and a good time was had in the process.

I know that I crammed far too many units into the space and many units did not get into combat but the fighting for the central town was very lively with the Russian Guards Division making a frontal attack and driving the British rifles out before occupying it and holding it against repeated attacks, destroying the British Highland Brigade in the process. The French infantry did very well too with a spirited advance that drove back opposing Russian brigades. Cavalry were used in only a limited way, the British Light Brigade advancing in support of the Horse artillery battery on the left flank being forced to retreat by musket fire. On the right flank the French Lights charged a battery of Russian guns taking heavy casualties. Mention must be made of the British Brigade of Guards who advanced in spirited fashion driving back two Russian brigades with rifle fire.

I do like the bright green board and the simplicity of the terrain items such as the downscaled 3mm buildings and individual small trees, both of which can be shifted around the square when a unit base enters. I'm also pleased with the mass effect of the figure bases which are marked for casualties by a small green 10mm circle. These markers represent the current combat strength rather than 'blocks' lost in this case. The small yellow circles you can see were used to mark activations (1 to 6) and removed once a unit has completed all of it's actions - move/fire/melee. 

In conclusion this set up allowed for a most enjoyable couple of hours play, and while I can see the advantages offered by a slightly wider and longer board I think this would make a very playable game against a live opponent, maybe limiting the number of units per side, possibly a random dice generated selection process and I'm sure the terrain could be used to play many of the One Hour Wargame scenarios with a bit of imagination.

Plenty of photos of course! First the deployment.










Mid stage as the struggle for the central town ensues.









Later stages.















22 comments:

  1. That all looks brilliant mate. Well worth the effort. You can’t beat 6mm for mass effect!

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    1. Cheers JBM, I'm really pleased with the effect of extended lines or massed columns and I think the 75mm grid is just about right.

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  2. Looks (and sounds) fab, Lee!

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    1. A most enjoyable couple of hours Sir, I really must do it more often.

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  3. Beautifully presented as always 👍

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    1. thank you very much (Rob, is that you :)

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  4. Looks great Lee and sounds like the game was good fun too!

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    1. Glad you like it Ian, I think theres plenty more to come now I have a taste for it again.

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  5. Hello there Lee,

    I have to say old chap that looks absolutely fantastic! The figures are really impressive and the smaller buildings look great. What a wonderful looking set up and it is staggering to think about quickly it has taken you to realise it! There is something about Irregular Miniatures - they look pretty mundane in the bare metal but paint up superbly - at least when you supply the brushwork that is!

    All the best,

    DC

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    1. Hello David, thanks for popping in here and I trust things are well with you? I'm pleased with it I must admit, seems odd playing C&C on a square grid but others have done it/do it and it can be made to work if you approach it with an open mind. There are a few things to work out and I need to address the cavalry charging infantry question as there was no forming squares due to increased range and accuracy of the new rifles, but I have an idea in mind. Now the thing is, do I take the plunge and go for a square grid on a 4 x 4 board using the lovely Geek Villain mat?

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  6. Very nice, from the photos its hard to believe the small playing area you are using. The terrain scale works well.

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    1. Thank you Peter, I think a slightly larger area would benefit the game.

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  7. Great to see the miniatures on the table. They really do look great!

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  8. Splendid lines of battle, spectacular!!

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    1. Thanks Phil, that's the effect I was after :)

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  9. Agreed looking tabke and great looking game, Lee.

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    1. Cheers Ray. That many bases needs a bigger table I know but wold work nicely for a smaller game I think.

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  10. Splendid looking game, the buildings work really well!
    Best Iain

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  11. Lee, great to see everything on the table and it all looks so good and goes together so well. The buildings in particular look very effective and not out of scale. I’m glad you’ve found some gaming mojo keep,itbup

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    1. Cheers Graham. I have really enjoyed this project and it was good to get a game on the table to try a few things out. I did a count up and there are over 2.000 figures now painted which even in 6mm looks impressive I think! Latest are some Turks who add a bit more colour to the Allies :)

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