Howdy,
Sunday, we played a training game for the ongoing campaign. Three, relatively new players. The scenario was an attack-defend scenario. One battalion of Germans defending supported by a MG stand. The Russians were attacking with two battalions, supported by a field gun battery and the regimental MG & scouts, and a squadron of cavalry.
The Germans deployed first, in a thin line across the table. The Russian cavalry was deployed along the western board edge. Germans, Experienced – 9, and the Russians, Trained – 8. Tough to attack with 8 morale and a disadvantage in troop quality. The scenario victory conditions were the Germans needed to inflict casualties at a rate of 3:2; the Russians inflict more than were taken.
The Russian main body entered one battalion per turn. One battalion entered along the eastern board edge w/the artillery. The other entered a turn later along the western board edge with the regimental assets.
The Germans kept the MG in the center and then shifted it back and forth. Two companies moved to defend each flank. Their center was wide open, but for the MG. Alas there were no Russian troops to attack there.
The eastern Russian player was the more aggressive and advanced directly on the German positions. His initial attacks were broken up, but he rallied and kept pushing. Eventually, he wore down the German defense. There were a couple of bayonet charges that went in during the action. The artillery was able to suppress a stand each turn but did not inflict casualties until the Germans were pushed out of cover.
The Russian player in the west was more cagey. He moved into range and started along range firefight with the Germans, as he continually moved forces to try an flank the German position.
It was interesting that the Russian casualties were evenly split between the two wings.
The Russians took 13 stands of losses of 32 infantry stands. While the Germans took 9 stands of losses of 16 infantry stands. Nearly a German victory, but in the scheme of things, a bloody draw.
Best of all, the players had fun and are psyched for the campaign.
The Fog of War cards seemed to generate the most exciting events of the game. Two anecdotes here. Initially, the Germans played "War God Smites" on the advancing cavalry – ultimately causes the cav to go shaken. Later as the Germans were attempting to fall back, a "Barbed wire fence" card trapped them in the open.
Pictures from yesterday's game:
Photo 1 – Terrain looking NW & German deployment
Photo 2 – Hill in NE corner
Photo 3 – God of War Smites Cavalry
Photo 4 – Russians advance in the East
Photo 5 – Russians advance in the West
Photo 6 – First contact in the East
Photo 7 – Germans fall back in the West
Photo 8 – Germans initial push in the East repulsed
Photo 9 – Russian POV in the West
Photo 10 – Russian bayonet charge in the West
Photo 11 – Russians move to flank in the West
Photo 12 – Russian firing line in the West
Photo 13 – Russians break in, in the East
Photo 14 – Russians flanking in the eastern woods
Photo 15 – Losses on the woodline
Photo 16 – "Flee you fools" – Defeat in the West
Photo 17 – The Russian players
Photo 18 – The German playerIt was fun!
Ponder on,
JAS
gets started with WWI British in 15mm.
