Keith Finn, one of the owners of First Command Wargames, ran a 6 player game of For Queen & Planet in the Saturday night (8pm-12am) session. As usual, for a well-tried Q&P VSF scenario, the game was very close and exciting.
VSF Pursuit of the Foreign Devils (Convention Game)
June 28, 1900
The Empress Dowager has requested aid from the Martians during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900. Several Spheres' have landed in China, but little has been seen of the Cephalopods that abortively invaded England in 1845 and the USA in 1861. However, the threat of their giant walkers is on the minds of the leaders of the European expeditionary forces operating against Boxer and Imperial forces.
An allied force has recently relieved a small besieged community of foreigners and is escorting them toward safety at a Port T'ang-ku. The Commanders hear reports of pursuit from Boxer, Imperial and Martian Cephalopod forces.
While the allies could easily withdraw from the encounter, the civilians are a ball and chain around their ankles and no civilized commander would leave them to their fate.
……………..The setup positions for the scenario…………….
…………….And that is what it looks like at Siege of Augusta………………….
The game starts with a bang, the Imperial Chinese column in gunnery range of the Russian troops in the West village. The Chinese/Cephalopod team must force the European forces out of the West village by turn 4 to collect 12 bonus Victory points so time is of the essence.
………………….The Imperial and Boxer warbands advanced rapidly on the Russian positions……………….
The fight in the Town…
The Imperial Chinese Warbands came on very fast, shooting a volley and closing to halbard range! The Russian troops (qualitatively the weakest of the European troops), help on stoutly and gave little ground. The Russian MG company was devastating thru out the entire game! The Chinese & Boxer Warbands hurled themselves over and over again into the Russian lines, and the Russians held firm.
It wasn't until the 5th Celestial Dragon Steam Tank reached the town that the Russians began to waver. On the right flank of the town, the Russian infantry held firm prevailing over all foes, even the dreaded Martian Flame Gun. But, once the Chinese Steam Tank got ramped up, it destroyed in quick succession the MG company (heroes all!), then a half battalion of the Russian Siberia Battalion. A half battalion of the 6th Bersaglieri infantry had advanced over the bridge to assist the Russians, and they too were roughly handled by the Chinese Steam Tank. But the Russians had done their job, holding the town long enough that the Imperial Chinese could not catch the refugee column
The Fight at the Ford…
The Boxers moved out quickly to cross the "unfordable" river. The British were unsure at first what the Boxers were up to, but soon saw the the first Boxer warband wade the river and they realized that trouble was heading straight towards them!
The Boxers were in open order to cross the hidden ford quickly, but then had to take time to close ranks so as to charge the British advance guard. While the Boxers were closing ranks, the Brits were deploying from march formation to a fighting line. The first British unit to engage the Boxers was the not-quite-proven Smythe Walker, a steam powered tripod walker sure to strike fear into the hearts of the Boxers if it worked.
The Smythe Walker moved out quickly to attack the Boxers the British had to change formation from march column to line, and the Walker was going to buy them that time! The Red Bannermen had taken some fire from the Walker, but formed ranks and unleashed frenzied charge on the Smythe Walker!
While THAT was happening, the Heavens Boxer cyborg had crossed the river and was threatening the King's Royal Rifle Corp (KRRC) near the town, and the Blue Bannermen swung wide to take the 46th Sussex in the flank. But, the half battalion of the 46th swung into line and completely enfiladed the Blue bannermen the resulting storm of fire destroyed the Blue Bannermen as a fighting force.
All the British forces were fully engaged at this point and being pressed on 3 sides!
The KRRC had lost one company in combat with the Cyborg, and (incredibly), the Red Bannermen had managed to swarm the Walker and knock it off its legs, but they took many losses! One intact Boxer unit and the Cyborg were squaring up to take on the entire 46th Royal Sussex when the recall was sounded.
and the Mess in the Center…
A Cephalopod field force struck in the center, hoping to overwhelm (eat) the refugee column. The small force was quick moving with impressive firepower and it had a weak but efficient Scout Saucer to boot. The Cephalopod's move and fight much like modern infantry but they did have to get across the river to have a go at the refugee column.
The Italian field force was deployed to guard the bridge crossing, but as soon as the Cephalopods began moving to wards the West Village they shifted their line to the river bank. One half of the 6th Bersaglieri Battalion remained to cover the bridge, while the other half of the Bersaglieri Battalion gathered up the Askaris and the Gatling to block the ambitions of the Cephalopods.
The Cephalopod infantry companies quickly moved up to force a river crossing, but galling fire from the the Gatling, the Askaris and the Bersaglieri kept driving them back.
Heavy casualties forced the Askaris back from the river line, and the Gatling company was destroyed, but the Bersaglieri held firm and kept the Cephalopod force from crossing the river. The one bright spot(?) for the space invaders was a very successful strafing run from their Scout Saucer resulting in a loss of almost half the refugees.
…………..Askaris guard whats left of the refugees………
The Fire Support Platform, the Scout Saucer and the remaining Cephalopod infantry were regrouping to take on the Bersaglieri when the recall was sounded. Many a good Italian boy breathed a sigh of relief to see the enemy withdraw.
Epilogue
We called the game just before Midnight. Due to losses, the Chinese/Cephalopod force had failed an army level moral check, and had decided to yield the battlefield. The European Field Force had just barely passed their Army Morale Check.
The game was judged a Draw.
The refugee column had escaped capture, but 50% of the refugees had been killed in repeated strafing runs by the Cephalopod Scout Saucer.
Many Kudos to the Russians for the valiant defence of the West Village. And equal kudos to the crew of the 5th Celestial Dragon Steam Tank, who got a slow start but then went "all Rommel" on the town defenders, destroying half a Russian infantry battalion, the MG Company, and 2 companies of the Bersaglieri before (reluctantly) withdrawing.
Casualties at games end
Refugees
50% losses from strafing run by the Cephalopod Scout Saucer!
British
46th Royal Sussex 1st battalion, companies A-D all companies intact, many wounded
46th Royal Sussex 1st battalion, companies E-G all companies intact, many wounded
79th KRRC, companies A-C one company destroyed, many wounded
Smythe Walker Tripod War Machine destroyed by enemy action
Italians
6th Bersagliere Battalion, companies A-D 2 companies destroyed, many wounded
6th Bersagliere Battalion, companies E-H all companies intact, many wounded
Somali Askari Battalion 2 companies destroyed, many wounded
17th Field Artillery Gatling battery destroyed by enemy action
Russians
1st Siberian Battalion, companies 1-5 all companies intact, many wounded
1st Siberian Battalion, 6-10 destroyed by enemy action
Sikorsky Flying Destroyer still flying!
1st Experimental Maxim Machine Gun Company destroyed by enemy action, but what a stand!
Imperial China
10th Imperial House Guard Withdrew in the face of heavy casualties
12th Imperial House Guard Withdrew in the face of heavy casualties
5th Celestial Dragon Steam Tank damaged but intact, Gained fame and battlefield honors!
Righteous Harmonious Fists Green Bannermen Withdrew in the face of heavy casualties
Boxer China
Righteous Harmonious Fists Blue Bannermen Withdrew in the face of heavy casualties
Righteous Harmonious Fists Red Bannermen One company destroyed, many wounded
Righteous Harmonious Fists Yellow Bannermen Many killed and wounded!
Heavens Boxer Cybord Exoskeleton damaged but intact, Gained fame and battlefield honors!
Cephalopods
1st Fist of the Titan Regt one company destroyed, many wounded.
Armored Fire Support, 1st Fist of the Phobos Regt survived the battle intact
Heat Ray Platform, 2nd Fist of the Titan Regt destroyed by enemy action
Scout Flyer Saucer, 2nd Fist of the Io Regt damaged, Gained fame and battlefield honors
Rules are available as a PDF download on Wargame Vault (print on demand will be ready to go soon). Our First Command website also has a battle report or two for you to check out if you're interested.
Purchase the rules here: link
First Command Website: firstcommandwargames.com
Feel free to ask any questions about them, too!
's first experience with 1:4800 scale naval models.
