"Throwing together a last minute game " Topic

I was supposed to put on a TSATF AWI game last night but couldn't finish the "secret" unit on time.
So I fell back on a battle based on some interesting tidbits from Fischer's "Washington's Crossing".
Mainly that the Philadelphia Light Horse and the Associators were heavily involved in the petit Guerre in New Jersey, involving foraging expeditions by Hessians etc. All the units were already painted so the secret missing unit was not needed. Six weeks maybe…

Ok. This was your standard "get the supply wagons off the table" bloodbath. The British and Hessians set up first, anywhere in the left quarter of the PingPong table. (9'x5') before they set up, I threw (literally) 20 chips on the table numbered 1-20. The British had 7 units, the Americans had 8. The Americans were supposed to be out scouting, searching for the British foraging party. So each unit rolled a D20 to pick it's starting point.
One unfortunate Yank unit ended up between the troop of 17th Light Drsgoons and the Loyal New Jersey Militia. "Jim, roll a D6. Odds you can come in next turn from off board." He failed and was stuck there.
Two units rolled the same chip. The second came on next turn, rolling a D6 for table edge.

I thought this up 5 minutes before people started showing up. The British had a slight edge in quality. (Jaegers shot as British rifles, after all…) the Yanks had one more unit.

So the Yanks may have been scattered all over the place, but at least they knew where the British had to go.

Isn't it amazing how if only two cavalry units are on the table, they will seek each other out?
Honours to the Philadelphia Light Horse.

I thought the game was fairly even, but the looted wagons did not make it off.
The only thing I would change in retrospect would be to make the wagon guards only vulnerable to key card hits. And perhaps the "preventers" should not outnumber the wagon guard, even if scattered.

Sorry. No pictures.

As an experiment once I ran an ACW meeting engagement. The table had a road that ran from one side to the other. At table center, on the road, was a small village. Coming in from each side, the road crested a hill before reaching the village.

The opposing forces entered along the road. Both sides got written instructions that they were to advance to the top of the near hill, and hold it.  Nothing more. If the players had followed their instructions, there would never have been a battle.

True to form, both sides advanced into the village and had at it. I just shook my head.

Well, I sure as hell didn't come here to march my men up a hill and sit there! My friends and I used to play AH Gettysburg with the rectangular 'hexes' and fight bloody battles over Cemetery Ridge and the environs. Late in life, I bought another copy and when I actually looked at the rules, all the Union has to do is march away from the Rebels and the Rebels could never catch them in time to destroy the Union Army which would be twice their size by then. But where was the fun in that?

John;
Sorry I couldn't make it up for that game.

We're still hopeful for two weeks though. All the Bhoys are painted and ready to go. Just need to finish the Yeos, both Horsey and Footy.

The Rifles are all done too.

Eric

Then I better get off my butt and get the Frenchies done.

…when I actually looked at the rules…

Setting up our games is fairly easy as our group has many armies.
Last week my Burgundians fought Italians. This week they fought Yorkists.
They won both games using Armati 2 rules. Double size, 150 points each.

John,
the numbered chips and d20 die roll for placement is a fantastic idea! gonna have to steal that one!

thanks

Sam

Steal away!
That's what TMP is for.