So which game to play? Well that was easy, we had just used a variation of Muskets and Tomahawks as a participation game at Derby, to great success. David had plenty of figures, and I was daft enough to help umpire.
David then had to set a scenario. With between 12 and 24 people, most of whom had never played the game before, playing for as long as they wanted, and to what level they wanted, we needed a lot of flexibility built in. So the game was to be a mini campaign with 2 big tables, which would stage the 2 main engagements, and 2 small tables to be used to link the large tables. The scenario was the British from fort Westmorland had decided to attack the French at Ottawa point via lake Elk, to allow freedom of movement on the lake by taking their guns out of action. The French meanwhile, had set out, over land, to attack the British fort. That covered the main tables. The small tables would allow men and materials to move between the big tables, or give people a chance to play small independent games depending on how many people turned up.
The 4 tables at the start of play, British fort in the far distance, The French blockhouse & Governor's house in the foreground,
The troops involved were basically what David had, with what others could bring, and what I finished painting in time. The aim was to give players about 180 points each, a few mixed commands, but most would be either regular, irregular or Indian. Thus cooperation between commands would be a good idea.
Troops available (most got used, I think):
British
1x 12 grenadiers
1x 8 grenadiers
1x 8 elite light infantry
6x 10 regulars
1x 8 rangers
1x 8 elite rangers
1x 6 elite rangers
3x 6 colonial rangers
1x 4 Indians
1x 6 Indians
3x 8 provincials
2 heavy guns
1 General and 3 ADCs all mounted, these could act as a mounted unit or as messengers between the tables.
French
1x 12 grenadiers
8x 10 regulars
1x 10 company de la marines
1x 4 Indians
6x 6 Indians
1x 6 Coer de Bois
1x 8 Canadian militia
2x 6 Canadian militia
2 heavy guns
1 General and 3 ADCs (as above)
Each player would have an officer appropriate to the troops they had been given from the above lists. Players were allocated a side as they arrived and we tried to put playing partners on opposite sides, while keeping regular opponents apart where possible.
Sides then chose or elected their General who then allocated commands to the tables as he wished.
Points would be awarded for achieving the victory conditions 3pts. Achieving their side plot (or umpire choice). 1pt
Possession of fort/ blockhouse and governor's house 3pts
There were a few house rules for movement between tables; the ADC messengers and runners etc.
We also use a limited matrix system on top, which helped players unfamiliar with the rules, who suddenly found they weren't allowed to perform a task, just had a cunning plan, or needed a change of weather etc if they could come up with 3 good arguments to do so.
Proceedings started around 10.00 am with Rob setting up the British 'home' board and me setting up the French. (Sorry photos not brilliant, bit short of time to do the full David Bailey).
The 4 tables at the start of play, British fort in the far distance, The French blockhouse & Governor's house in the foreground
David set up a game on a small table to demonstrate the rules, where the French were attempting to move a heavy gun overland to bombard the British fort. This was a heavily wooded table, with most of the table assumed to be covered, and open spaces placed in a reversal of normal games. Once the demo bit was over, opposing forces really got going. The British force, largely irregulars, used the terrain well against their regular opponents and managed to capture the gun and spike it. Unfortunately for the rangers, they were now in the open and the firing lines of the French forced them back so that the game ended with the French in command of the gun and, most importantly, they still had the gun crew who had withdrawn earlier rather than try anything to heroic. A phyrric victory for the French.
French recapturing the gun
The other small table was a low key skirmish, again on a heavily wooded table. Both sides made sure they were contesting the table to avoid giving an easy victory to their opponent, and to keep communication channels open between the tables. The forces were all irregular, rangers and Indians for the Brits and Canadians and Indians for the French. The British objective was engagement, the French raid. During the game the Brits pushed the Canadians away from the building with heavy casualties. The French player saw he was not going to destroy the buildings to achieve his victory conditions, and decided to withdraw his forces before the British killed 2/3 of his men and achieve his. So this game ended in a draw.
The assault on the British fort, without artillery seemed to lack numbers and punch and failed to get close to carrying the fort once the British regulars managed to scramble home. The game was one of long range exchanges of fire and fights over possession of the road. British victory.
The British fort prior to kick off
The British scrambling to reinforce the fort before the French could mount an attack
2 views of the French 'home' table with the blockhouse over looking the bay and the Governors house at the centre of the village.
The assault on the French village and blockhouse (where I was stationed) was made by a force of
regulars, with some provincials, arriving as reinforcements.The regulars advance up the road was hampered by the woods to the flanks and the stream to their front and when the French advanced to the edge of the village they were nearly bottled up completely. Numbers started to tell as the Brits got into firing lines, and pushed the French back.
Brits bunched up on the table edge
Canadians arriving
Canadians lining the log barracade top right, British regulars and provincials attemping to cross the river.
Further progress was slowed by flanking fire from some Canadian militia, but with the arrival of the provincials the village was reached as the French regulars were forced to give ground
We had relaxed the rules on civilians staying close to each other to allow occupation of all the buildings, which meant the Brits would have to fight hard for each house. The civilians put up a spirited resistance matching the regulars and provincials for casualties. This meant they didn't test moral even though they had lost a 1/3 - 1/2 their number. They managed to remain in possession of the buildings when the game ended at lunch. The French Indians on this board didn't achieve much, as one group fell victim to a house 'event' of running off after the livestock. The other group occupied the governors house to fire at the British only to be 'matrixed' by the British into plundering the house instead.
British reinforcements arrive via the lake behind the French late in the game but without time to influence the outcome before nightfall (lunch, well the essentials must be observed)
So the game ended with the French still in command of the Governors house and the Blockhouse. Side plots were played (not that I can remember what they were) but neither achieved them. So 3 - 0 to the French for the morning.
The moral of the morning for the Brits,
Don't mess with Granny !!!
Now Lunch,
Will post the next thrilling instalment, the afternoon events, soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment