Honours of War AAR - The crossroads (take three)

This was the third attempt at the same scenario using different rulesets in order to best compare and select a preferred one. The scenario, as before, involves two perfectly balanced forces converging on a crossroads with seperated columns (4 columns all arriving at semi random times). The strategies of the combatants had been diced in the original attempt and keep consistent since.

This go around uses Osprey's Honours of War. It was very helpfully suggested by Jonathan Freitag of Palouse Wargaming Journal who has a number of battles written up using it as well. We both liked the rules and are planning another go around (with a different scenario). We did have some concerns about time to close, but we think if we change to the 20mm distances (from the 15mm) and possibly add some road benefit it may alleviate those problems for us. On to the writeup and more thoughts...

Black Powder AAR - The crossroads (redux)

In the quest for a most preferred ruleset (thereby sidestepping the 'best' discussion trap) Tommy and myself replayed the crossroads game . A quick recap: we are hunting for a lacewars era ruleset to use with an imagi-nations type campaign/dabbling.

The scenario has been taken out of the excellent 'programmed wargame scenarios' and sees a closing engagement between two enemies of  two brigades each  marching down 4 roads that intersect in the middle (hence the crossroads designation).  Tommy has instructions to form a north-south battle line centered on the town, while my own orders are to take the commanding heights past the town.

Age Of Reason AAR - The crossroads

My forces marching towards the distant hills

I'm hunting for a 'lace wars' era rule set that I like enough to play regularly. One of the local gamers handed me a big box of unpainted lead (15mm scale isn't something he wants anymore) for the era. I'm planning on painting up an 'imagi-nation', but basing and unit sizes somewhat depend on rules so....the hunt is on.

Very quickly the cavalry is setting up to clash at the crossroads

My erstwhile opponent, Tommy, came into a large lot of prussians based and painted for Age of Reason. It seemed to be the most simple approach to try these rules first. We chose a relatively small set of matched forces (4 units infantry (inc 1 grenadier), 2 units can (light and med), and 2 cannon). Consulting Charles Grants 'Programmed Wargame Scenarios' we found that we were advance guards coming from the East/West trying to seize the cross roads. Tommy was meant to form a line of battle North/South at the crossroads. I was meant to 'seize the heights' which involved marching past to the South West and occupying the hills. Obviously these were incompatible plans so things got bloody.


I find it interesting when rules do cause 'historical' engagements. We had lots of failure of nerves to actually close into melee. Our cavalry clashed early/first and each side had a unit run off the table (dragoons beating hussars in both cases). It was actually more effective for grenadiers to advance to musketry range and blaze away at a lesser unit than (fail to) charge in.

Failure of will means the cav swaps insults at close range

 Some mistakes were made. The artillery was overly effective for the first couple salvos (1/2 of an infantry unit disappeared in a pink mist at one point).
The cavalry also tested their ability to close to combat incorrectly early, so there probably would have been even fast clashes at the beginning.

We played for 3 hours before running out of time. I suspect we were pretty close to a decision. Tests to withdraw were being made (although currently at a 12 on 2 dice). More importantly a lot of units were worn and likely to leave with a few more casualties. 

 I'd be willing to give these rules another go, having gotten up to speed on them. Our plan is to try the same forces/scenario with a different ruleset next month for comparison.

My infantry blindly marches past the screening cavalry into the teeth of the guns. A pink mist ensues....