Last Tuesday I played the introductory Hours of War scenario solo again to get a handle on the new rules before trying them on my buddies. I spent the nest two days helping an artist friend move their studio, so some details of the ensuing game may have evaporated in the meantime. The game is in 15mm with late war (1760+) Prussians and Russians, picked mainly because they are fairly similar by then. The Prussians have lost some of their luster and the Russians have improved.
I wrote down 15 turns but seem to have 16 photos of the end of each turn. Oh well, on with the report.
IR 26, in combat while in road column, fell back to regroup.
As hits piled up, I had both sides edge back to recover.
Then the Prussian artillery knocked the Russian CO out of his saddle.
The Apcheronksi regiment gave way under artillery and sprinted back across the bridge.
The Prussian infantry halted, perhaps moved by the tableau of the dying Russian general. The Russian cavalry charged the dragoons and beat them soundly. Urged to pursue, they instead stopped to loot the dead and rob the prisoners. (They rolled a 1 on the pursuit test).
Archangel raced across the bridge, urged on by the new CO. While he was a dithering sort, he was brave. Always up front, he had balls through his hat twice in the game. (11 or 12 on 2D6 puts leaders hors de combat. Twice the Prussians rolled 10.) Again the Prussian infantry stood and watched.
IR 26 advanced and placed accurate fire into the Russian cavalry. The other infantry closed on the bridge.
The Russian cavalry charged the dragoons and were routed. Prussian infantry and artillery traded fire with the Russians in St. Ulrich.
The leading infantry on each side went about.
link Prussians decided to make a more concerted attack.
Making a double move, IR 13 formed column and rushed the bridge. The relatively fresh Archangel regiment fired in their faces and the artillery on the hill poured in canister. IR 13 ran back in disorder, as IR 23 formed on the road to try again.
IR 23 got across the bridge but not into contact while IR 26 kept the Russian artillery busy. IR 13 reformed. IR 23 survived the musket fire from the Russians.
IR 23 formed line in front of the town. The Prussians won first fire. The infantry brigade fired and rolled low all down the line. One hit on the garrison would have sent them about, two would have routed them. But IR 23 had 3 hits also and was on the brink. The return Russian fire was devastating. IR 23 broke and ran back across the bridge, while IR 26 broke and ran from canister fire. The score was Prussians down 2, Russian down 1.5 (half point for the leader). It was closer than it looked. Apcheronski had fallen back twice in disorder. Each time, one more hit would have put them out of the game.
It took 2 hours and 5 minutes to play 15 (or was it 16) turns. I think I have enough of a handle on these rules to run a game between the guys, after I get back from my trip out of town.
paints his first three ships from the starter set.
