6mm Fast Play Grande Armee

We hadn't dug out this old favorite for awhile. Some of the group actually had never played Fast Play Grande Armee, so this was their chanve. Of, course, those particular few didn't show.

I've been battlin' the Two Week Crud so sat this one out, instead helping remember rules we alwasy forget.

The scenario was an Austrian defense in depth. The French were going to have to capture or at least push the Austrians out, of the towns and secure the bridges beyond. The French had a 1.5-to-1 advantage.

The Austrians decided to push as far as they were allowed to deploy forward, taking the hills. As you might have guessed, it was a hard slog to push them off. It wasn't helped by the French left, made of the entire cavalry force. They wouldn't budge. When they finally got moving, they swept everything aside and made a huge wheel around the Austrian right, but not before time ran out.

The Austrians managed to do the same on their left. A defensive strategy quickly went offensive as they began to push back their French opponents.

As usual, a great game with plausible outcomes and a feel for the period. I like that there is built into the rules, a great follow up, post game pursuit mechanism. It pays not to commit all your cav. You can turn a minor victory into a crushing one as your victorious horse ride down the defeated foe. Great for campaign. Wish Sam would publish these by themselves instead as a an add on for Grande Armee.

The great 6mm Baccuss minis painted by Mr. Scott.

Orders to Eagles

For the fourth Thursday in a row I have somehow escaped being the one putting on the game. This time, Basement General Nick brought his own rules "Orders to Eagles". He also brought his fine collection of miniatures and terrain. It was a semi-fictional fight between the French and Saxon allies vs the Prussians (I think. I had been to a Happy Hour right before, so some details are fuzzy).

Prussians along the road.

The French move to meet them

"That way boys!"

In the distance, squares are formed.

I think, as usual most folks had fun. And that's what matters.

Next Thursday, Nappies again. This time 6mm and Fast Play Grande Armee.

6mm Grande Armee

After all the skirmishes lately, I thought we needed some big battle action. Time to bring out the 6mm Nappies,

The Austrians have gotten pretty hammered (not in a good way) the last dozen times they've played, so with some more troops fielded, we thought they'd have a fighting chance. That said, as the Austrian commander, I watched my left crumble almost from the get-go. But luckily, the right held and the wargame dosey-do began. 

The town in the center changed hands a couple of times, finally held by the Austrians. As night fell we still had it, giving us a somewhat Phyrric victory. 

Oh well, the figs looked nice.

St EClair (a Fast Play Grande Armee game)

The French fought the Austrians in this fictional battle for the town of St Eclair. Fast Play Grande Armee are my rules of choice for this scale and this period. I think it gives a great representation of Napoleonic battles without all the excess "stuff". You can get a huge battle fought in 3 hours easy. We had six commands, and ended with a obvious winner in 2 1/2 hours.

Throw in the gorgeous 6mm figs (yes, I said 6mm) and stands provided by Scott, and you have the ingredients for a great game.

The French

The Austrians

The Austrians took the early initiative, but chose to let the French go first. The French covered the ground quickly, except in the center, where for some reason, Napoleon's troops lagged behind. The town was seized by the French, but it would turn out to be a tough time holding it.

The French capture St Eclair

The cannonade is fierce

The entire game, the Austrians pounded the defenders in the town. Although the these guns might have been better served pounding the infantry outside the town. 

The battle ebbed and flowed, until finally the Austrian cavalry on the left broke. Seven Austrian brigades would break in a single turn after that. French victory.

Some take aways: The Austrians need more heavy cavalry. And a few extra infantry, too. The French move faster, so you need something to balance.

Keeping track of everything is easy with these nifty dry erase labels on the back.