Stargrave - First Game in the 'Ravaged Galaxy'

This was our first attempt at playing 'Stargrave' - sci fi skirmish rules. It was set on some bleak, dark, post industrial futuristic world in which both gangs of intergalactic renegades had to collect loot, kill the opposition and avoid being killed.

The rules worked very well. The game mechanics are straightforward and we churned through the turns more quickly as we progressed, as we got used to the sequence. They are fun rules that enable you to develop an ongoing narrative which, in our game, included extreme cowardice, falling off buildings and extensive use of a flame-thrower!

The figures are from the excellent Games Workshop 'Necromunda' range, which can be used effectively for Stargrave. The terrain is also heavily influenced by the Necromunda setting, although it comprises of inexpensive MDP sci fi terrain and homemade pieces.

ACW – Early Months of the War Scenario

This scenario is the first meeting of the forces that I have been working on to eventually refight the Battle of First Manassas at the Bull Run. The armies that met in the first few engagements – at Big Bethel and Bull Run – had some interesting uniforms and features for the wargamer. Colourful zouave and chasseur uniforms, some Northerners in grey and some Southerners in blue, Stars and bars flags only for the Confederates etc.

In this refight, the Union were successful on their left flank and the Confederacy on their left, leading to a ‘revolving door’ front line. The Confederates also had the better of the fighting in the centre and killed more enemy troops, so on balance the C.S.A had the better of the evening’s fighting.

Louisiana Tiger Zouaves

Player View

Battle of Bull Run Wargame

14th Brooklyn Chasseurs ('Red Legged Devils')

JEB Stuart and the Black Horse Cavalry

33rd Virginia (on right) in blue coats

NY Fire Zouaves

79th NY Highlanders hit in the flank

More Greek Madness - The Peloponnesian War

Another club game played online. This time a classic encounter between Athens and Sparta. 

In short, despite doing everything correctly - managing light troops effectively, using higher ground to deploy inferior hoplites, good use of superior cavalry etc. - The Athenians managed to lose the game in the last turn. The Spartan's quality shone through, although the key moment was when the Athenian C-in-C AND key ally generals were killed in melee, leading to a collapse in army morale and a bitter defeat to their historical enemies.

Player view

From behind Athenian lines

Spartiates

Spartan allies

Athenians

From behind the left flank of the Athenian line

The rival phalanx clash

Inferior hoplites fight for control of the high ground

The Second Half of A Plan

 This week saw the conclusion of The Battle of The Clouds, an AWI clash in which the British struggled to drive their way through the American line. The battlefield had split into two wings, with the Americans being able to set up murderous cross fire at the head of the two British attacks. It remained to be seen whether the British could keep up enough pressure on the American units in front of them to force a break in the line which would allow them to push on and remove the threat of the American artillery.

 A rather dizzying bird's eye view of the American left wing. British Lights are in the wood to the left whilst the Americans are poised to deliver volleys of devastating fire into the ranks of the advancing British.

Turn 6 saw the Americans gain the initiative and they declared a charge towards the British on this flank who opted to stand and fire. The 3rd Division pivoted to face the wood. The Queen's Rangers moved to the edge of the wood to threaten the 5th Division. The Hessians inclined to the right.

 On the right flank the British Guards charged, as did the 4th Brigade. The American column moved further along the flank in case the British managed to finish off their opponents.

Alexander's 5th Division failed to press home the charge and retreated facing the British. For a moment it looked as if the British had an opportunity to drive into the American line and escape the cross fire on this flank. Cornwallis readied his dice and prepared to face one more turn of cutting fire. However, one casualty from the artillery, and a total of four more from musket fire meant that Grant's brigade lost a base and this proved too much for them. Even though they were Veterans, the perils of their situation and the sustained mounting casualties proved too much for Grant and his men who promptly fled. Fortunately, the Hessians behind them stood firm. The 5th Division also lost a base from combined casualties from the Queen's and  Vaughan's brigade and the Militia took just one casualty. The sudden opportunity to make headway had vanished in an instant!

On the American right flank, the British charged home in a valiant attempt to shatter the Americans and send the Rebels packing. The Artillery had caused two casualties on the 4th brigade which lost a base and received three more from closing fire. The charge struck however  but whilst the casualties were three apiece from the melee, the 4th were severely battered from four turns of fire and they retired facing the enemy. The Guards crashed into Wayne's Division in what was probably the best British opportunity to punch through, but the Americans came off one casualty better and the Guards were forced to withdraw facing the enemy. The 3rd brigade fired a devastating volley at the troublesome American skirmishers meaning they too lost a base.

 Turn 7 again saw the Americans gain the initiative. The skirmishers fell back, the column moved forward onto the hill behind Wayne's division which fell back to clear the line of sight for its artillery.

On the other flank, the 3rd Division charged the edge of the wood, forcing the Queen's Rangers to evade and providing relief to 5th Division who were able to steady themselves. 

Above it can be seen that the British pulled back a little, holding on to the slender hope that a round of musket fire may cause Muhlenburg's Division to falter. It was not to be. Artillery continued to chip away at the Guards who stood firm. The American skirmishers finally routed from the field after another volley from the 3rd brigade, but their departure didn't make an impact on the morale of the Americans. Muhlenburg's Division also stood firm and the last hope of a British push crumbled away.

In the post battle discussion, we considered the challenges facing the British. For them to be able to put pressure on the Americans at a point of their choosing, it would require substantial maneuvering. The original half a plan sought to neutralise some of the American forces by pinning the flanks and concentrating the main thrust up the middle. The vagaries of command and control however meant that it's very difficult to pull off a coordinated attack. If one brigade refuses to move for a turn it can cause chaos and reveal intentions allowing the enemy time to react and reorganise to face the threat. It was a mistake to ignore the American skirmishers on the right flank. Perhaps if the Hessians had moved towards the centre and the 3rd and 4th Brigade had the flexibility to exploit American indecision on how to move to counter the thrust things might have been very different. As it was, the British withdrew, leaving American Divisions that were largely in good shape. We also need to consider the morale modifiers. Units are punished for losing a base, and if these are cumulative as well as being penalised for loss of 25% and then 50%, there is very little opportunity to be able to probe and then consolidate. Unless units are large, or the attackers have vastly superior numbers, the attacker has an almost impossible task.

Thanks to David for setting up the game, moving the figures and switching the camera views. Next week we will be in the Ancient world - Greeks against Greeks- trying out a set of rules created by one of our members.

Please consider following our blog and maybe add a comment below. It would be especially interesting to hear of any other refights of this battle in the light of our experiences. Can you come up with half a plan that sweeps the Rebels from the field?

Half A Plan The Battle of The Clouds

 This week's game was an American War of Independence Clash, the scenario was based on The Battle of The Clouds and used a set of club rules drawing inspiration from Black Powder.

The Americans are deployed across the board under Washington, preventing the British from moving up the two roads.

General Washington (Average)

Green (Average) (numbers in brackets indicate the unit in the picture below)

1st Division - 1st Brigade – Muhlenburg (4)

16 figures, 4 stands, Trained

1st Division - 2nd Brigade – Muhlenburg (3)

16 figures, 4 stands, Trained

4th Division – Wayne (2)

24 Figures, 6 stands, Trained

Maxwell's Light Infantry (1)

12 figures, 3 stands, Trained

6 pdr gun Veteran

Whilst the British under General Howe, were driving up the two roads in a manner that would clearly lead to a split battle of two wings.

General Howe (Average)

Right Wing - Cornwallis (Excellent)

Advance Guard (Queens Rangers Light Infantry) (13)

8 figures, 2 stands,  Trained

1st Brigade - Grant (15)

24 figures, 6 stands, Veteran

2nd Brigade – Vaughan (14)

20 figures, 5 stands, Veteran

Hessian 1st Brigade – Stirn (16)

16 figures, 4 stands, Trained

6pdr gun Veteran 

Left Wing - Knyphausen (Average)

Light Infantry and Guards Brigade – Matthew (10)

20 figures, 5 stands, Elite

Hessian 2nd Brigade - von Donop (9)

24 figures, 6 stands, Trained

4th Brigade – Agnew (11)

20 figures, 5 stands, Trained

3rd Brigade – Grey (12)

16 figures, 4 stands, Veteran

The British "Half a plan" involved Knyphausen driving Mathew's Brigade through the woods, splitting the American line and exiting the board by the road beyond. Cornwallis was tasked with pinning the Americans in front of him so that they could do little to support the beleaguered center.

The plan however, began to fall apart from the first moment of the game (when doesn't it). The vagaries of battle deployment meant that Von Donop's brigade were deployed at the head of the column instead of the Lights, and they couldn't get through the wood.

To further complicate matters, issues with command and control often meant that brigades stubbornly refuse to move, usually at critical moments meaning it's very difficult to put together a coordinated attack.

The first turn saw Maxwell's Lights move forward and act as skirmishers on the Knyphausen's flank. The rest of the American forces waited to see where the British attack was going to come from. Knyphausen moved the Hessians up and inclined slightly towards the wood, with the intention of staying hidden from American artillery whilst the Lights would push through.

Cornwallis moved his brigades forward and the Queen's Rangers also moved up to the wood in front of them with the intention of harrasing the Americans beyond the road.

American artillery opened up but there were no casualties on either flank and the British were relieved by the fact that the bodies had not started to pile up yet as they faced a potential storm of shot.

The second turn saw the British gain the initiative. Again, Knyphausen urged his men up the road but the half plan was abandoned in favour of  a determined push into the mouth of hell. General Howe dug his heels into the flanks of his horse and dashed across the field to stiffen resolve if it should falter. Cornwallis continued to advance and the Queen's reached the edge of the wood.

The American Lights moved along von Donop's flank and began sniping, causing one casualty. Muhlenburg's second division wheeled and moved up the road to prepare flanking fire for the advancing Hessians. On the other wing, the American brigades mirrored the other flank and began to take up positions which would allow them to create a killing field.

The American artillery had found its range, causing two casualties on von Donop's Hessians and on the other flank one casualty to Grant's Brigade. The only British shooting resulted in one casualty on the American Lights.

It was at this point that Howe had hoped that Cornwallis would use Grant's Brigade and the Artillery to pin the American left whilst he made a dash down the road in an attempt to outmaneuver the Americans and give the British a sporting chance of achieving the objective. Cornwallis however continued to advance up the flank, heading straight for the carefully prepared cross fire. This was exactly the same situation as was developing on the American right flank.

Turn Three saw the Americans gain the initiative. The lights continued to harry the poor Hessians who steadfastly ignored them and kept pushing up the road.

Hits from the artillery meant that the Hessians lost a base. The American Lights fired at the Guards, causing one casualty and scored a further casualty on the 4th Brigade behind them. The Hessian morale stood firm as they drew ever closer to the artillery. Over on the other flank, the American artillery missed and the British continued up the road whilst the Americans waited, inclined to maximise their fire power when the British appeared around the wood.

Turn Four saw the British gain the initiative and they determinedly continued with their advance into the very teeth of the American guns. Cornwallis ordered his artillery around the wood and deployed dangerously close to the American line. Grant and Vaughan moved their brigades up slightly whilst the British skirmishers moved through the wood with the intention of finally finding a target.

The American left flank remained stationary whilst on the right, the gun pivoted to catch the hessians in its arc of fire and Muhlenburg moved up the hill to act as a reserve if the British succeeded in punching through.

The shooting phase saw volley after volley of devastatingly effective fire from  the Americans. The British artillery lost three casualties and the crew promptly fled into the safety of the wood. The beleaguered Hessians bore the worst on the American right, losing two bases. The resulting morale check meant that they routed, and streamed down the road past the Lights and the 3rd Brigade who fortunately stood firm. All credit to General Green who had positioned his forces to create a deadly cross fire, whilst the American Lights had accomplished their purpose admirably.

Cornwallis faces the same horrific cross fire as von Donop. Washington, positioned near the farmhouse, looks on with grim satisfaction.

Turn five saw the slight adjustment of the American right flank to face the threat of the British Lights who were closing on Wayne's battered division. Muhlenburg formed into line behind them as support whilst General Howe failed to stop the rout of the Hessians who were removed from the field.

The shooting phase saw more misery for the British as the Lights lost two bases but stood firm. Their return fire on Wayne's division caused slight consternation as a musket ball whistled close to their General. The British skirmishers on the other flank were finally in a position to fire upon the enemy, whilst Washington closed in on the advancing British using the wood to secure his flank.

And there we paused the game until next week. The British face a monumental task. The terrain means that they are funneled into two narrow channels that have become killing fields. The often ponderous nature of movement and a reluctance to follow orders makes mounting an attack in which wave after wave drives the enemy back is extremely difficult. It remains to be seen whether the British can crack a hole in the line and take advantage of this to roll up the enemy either side. Will they falter as they step over the pile of dead into the very teeth of the guns and muskets lined against them?

We'll find out!