SOME GAMES WITH "A WHIFF OF DICE" RULES
I share the report of two games I played solo using Ross MacFarlane's "A Whiff of Dice" horse and musket rules and my
"Azules y Colorados" 30mm homade armies. I played with the version used during the Huzza! 2023 but with the "3 cards per side" game sequence.
This method was created by Walter Simon (I took it from a Peter Dennis rulebook) and it works like this:
Three red and three black cards are taken from a deck, shuffled, and placed face down. A color is assigned to each side. The
order of play each turn is determined by sequentially removing the cards from the top of this small deck.
When the first card of its color is drawn, all units of that side that can and want to shoot, shoot.
When the second card of its color is drawn, all the Infantry and artillery units of that side that want and can move, move.
When the third card of its color is drawn, all cavalry units from that side that want to move move.
Melee combat is resolved as it occurs during the turn.
At the end of the turn, all six cards are shuffled and a new turn begins.
FIRST GAME
For this game I used scenario 4 "Take the high ground" from the Neil Thomasīs "One Hour Wargames" book and the following armies:
BLUE ARMY
3 Infantry Units (1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions)
1 Cavalry Unit (1st Squadron)
1 Artillery Unit (Battery B)
1 Skirmisher Unit (skirmishers from the 1st and 2nd Battalions)
RED ARMY
3 Infantry Units (1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions)
2 Cavalry Units (1st and 2nd Squadrons)
1 Artillery Unit (Battery A)
I recorded the game taking photos at the end of each turn, that is, they show the situation once the movements, shots and charges have been made by both sides.
Each image is accompanied by a comment that summarizes what happened during the development of the turn.
SCENARIO 4: TAKE THE HIGH GROUND
SITUATION
An isolated portion of the Red army occupies a strategic hill. The Blue general has noted this, and
has set out to seize the hilltop before enemy reinforcements arrive.
ARMY SIZES
Both armies have 6 units.
DEPLOYMENT
The Red army deploys 2 units on the hill, facing south. No Blue units are deployed at the start of
this scenario.
REINFORCEMENTS
Turn 1: The Blue army arrives on the southern table edge.
Turn 2: 4 Red units arrive on the northern table edge, either on or east of the road.
SPECIAL RULES
No special rules apply to this scenario.
GAME LENGTH AND TURN ORDER
This scenario lasts 15 game turns. The Red player goes first in each turn.
VICTORY CONDITIONS
The army in exclusive occupation of the hill at the end of the game is victorious.
Turn 1
Red Army occupies the hill with the 1st infantry Battalion and Battery A.
Blue Army advances along the entire front.
On the right flank, Battery B moves seeking to cover one of its flanks with the woods while the skirmishers of the 1st
and 2nd Battalions head towards it, from where they can control the road, cooperate with the artillery and (above all) remain safe from the probably numerous (and definitely dangerous) cavalry of the Red side.
On the left flank, the 2nd, 3rd and 1st infantry Battalions advance towards the hill in a brigade movement.
Blue 1st cavalry Squadron tries to outflank the defenders.
Note: in the lower left corner of the images you can see the order in which the cards came out (from left to right)
Turn 2
Blue artillery fires from the flank, at long range, on Red artillery.
The skirmishers enter the woods. The Blue infantry charge up the hill defenders and are repulsed.
The Red units defending the hill fire on the retreating Blue infantry.
The bulk of the reinforcements of the Red army arrive, to the East of the road, the 1st infantry Battalion cross-country
and along the road, with a brigade movement, the 1st and 2nd cavalry Squadrons.
Blue cavalry continues its flanking maneuver.
Turn 3
The defenders of the hill fire on the Blue infantry.
Blue artillery fires against the 1st Red cavalry.
The 1st Red infantry continues its advance, meanwhile, another reinforcement unit arrives for the Red army, it is the 3rd Infantry,
The Red cavalry units maneuver to charge in the next turn.
The 2nd and 3rd Blue infantry charge up the Red units defending the hill, destroying the artillery and forcing the infantry back, they take the hill. The 1st Blue infantry maneuvers to defend itself from the Red cavalry.
Blue cavalry charges the 2nd Red infantry, and is repulsed.
Turn 4
The 1st Red cavalry receives fire from Blue artillery and the skirmishers. The 3rd Blue infantry fires on the 2nd Red infantry.
The Red infantry reinforcements maneuver and continue advancing.
The 1st Squadron of Red cavalry charges the Blue artillery and is repulsed. The 2nd charges and forces the 1st Blue infantry back.
The Blue cavalry charges and forces the 2nd Red infantry to retreat.
Turn 5
The Red infantry reinforcements continue to maneuver and advance.
Blue artillery fires, supported by the skirmishers, on the 1st Red cavalry.
The 2nd and 3rd Blue infantry maneuver to meet the approaching enemy units.
Blue cavalry charges and destroys the 2nd Red infantry.
The 1st Red cavalry charges the Blue artillery and is repulsed, the 2nd charges and forces the 1st Blue infantry back.
Turn 6
The 1st Red cavalry is destroyed by the shots of the Blue artillery and the skirmishers. The 2nd Red cavalry receives fire from the 1st Blue infantry.
The 1st and 3rd Battalions of the Red infantry continue their advance towards the hill while the Blue infantry units that occupy it maneuver.
The 2nd Red Cavalry charges the 1st Blue infantry and is repelled.
The Blue cavalry charges the 3rd Red infantry as reinforcements, is defeated and destroyed.
Turn 7
The 1st Red infantry fires on the 3rd Blue infantry. The 3rd Red infantry maneuvers.
The Red cavalry charges and forces the 1st Blue infantry to retreat.
The artillery and the 3rd Blue infantry fire on the 1st Red infantry while the 2nd Blue infantry maneuvers.
The skirmishers leave the woods and head towards the hill.
Turn 8
The Red infantry fired against the Blue infantry units that occupied the hill.
The Blue infantry returned fire while their artillery and skirmishers fired at long range on the rear of the 1st Red infantry.
The Red cavalry charges and destroys the 1st infantry.
Turn 9
The Red infantry fires against the Blue infantry.
Blue artillery and the skirmishers fire at long range on the rear of the Red infantry while the Blue infantry fires at the front.
Red cavalry maneuvers threatening the flank of the Blue infantry.
Turn 10
The Red infantry fires against the Blue infantry.
The 2nd Blue infantry fires on the 3rd Red infantry while Blue artillery fires at long range on the rear of the 1st.
The skirmishers advanced seeking to close the distance while, on the hill, the 3rd Blue infantry maneuvered to face the imminent charge of the enemy cavalry.
The Red cavalry charges the 3rd Blue infantry uphill and is repulsed.
Turn 11
The 2nd Blue infantry fires on the 3rd Red infantry while the Blue artillery and skirmishers continue firing on the rear of the 1st.
The Red infantry units concentrated their fire on the 2nd Blue infantry.
The Red cavalry charges up the hill and destroys the 3rd Blue infantry.
Turn 12
The 2nd Blue infantry fires at the 3rd Red infantry while the Blue artillery and the skirmishers fire on the rear of the 1st.
Red infantry concentrated their shots on the 2nd Blue infantry.
Red cavalry charges the 2nd Blue infantry on the flank and forces it to retreat, seizing the hill.
Turn 13
Finally, shots from the rear by the Blue artillery and the skirmishers destroyed the 1st Red infantry.
Red cavalry charges the 2nd Blue infantry and destroys it.
Turn 14
Blue artillery and the skirmishers fire on the rear of the Red infantry that maneuvers to confront them.
Red cavalry maneuvers to attack the skirmishers.
Turn 15
Blue artillery and the skirmishers fire on the Red infantry who retreat towards the hill along with the cavalry. It is the end of turn 15 and the Red units control the hill.
Victory for the Red side!
SECOND GAME
Again, for this game I used scenario 4 "Take the high ground" from the Neil Thomasīs "One Hour Wargames" book and the following armies:
BLUE ARMY
3 Infantry Units (1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions)
1 Cavalry Unit (1st Squadron)
1 Artillery Unit (Battery B)
1 Skirmisher Unit (skirmishers from the 1st and 2nd Battalions)
RED ARMY
3 Infantry Units (1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions)
2 Cavalry Units (1st and 2nd Squadrons)
1 Artillery Unit (Battery A)
I recorded the game taking photos at the end of each turn, that is, they show the situation once the movements, shots and charges have been made by both sides.
Each image is accompanied by a comment that summarizes what happened during the development of the turn.
Turn 1
Red Army occupies the hill with the 3rd infantry Battalion and Battery A.
Blue Army advances along the entire front.
On the right flank, Battery B moves seeking to cover one of its flanks with the woods while the skirmishers of the 1st and 2nd Battalions head towards it, from where they can control the road, cooperate with the artillery and (above all)
remain safe from the probably numerous (and definitely dangerous) cavalry of the Red side.
On the left flank, the 1st, 3rd and 2nd infantry Battalions advance towards the hill in a brigade movement.
Red artillery fires with cannister on the Blue infantry.
Blue 1st cavalry Squadron tries to outflank the defenders.
Note: in the lower left corner of the images you can see the order in which the cards came out (from left to right)
Turn 2
Red artillery fires cannister on the 2nd Blue infantry.
To the East of the road, cross country, two reinforcement units for the Red army arrive using a brigade movement.
They are the 2nd and 1st infantry.
Blue artillery advances and takes up a fighting position near the forest as the skirmishers enter it. Blue infantry
charges the defenders of the hill uphill, being repulsed.
Along the way, the 1st and 2nd Red cavalry Squadrons arrive, using a brigade movement.
Blue cavalry charges uphill, on the flank, to the 3rd Red infantry that defends the hill and is repulsed.
Turn 3
The defenders of the hill fire at Blue infantry.
Blue artillery fires on the 1st Red cavalry and its infantry against the units that occupy the hill.
Blue cavalry again charged uphill, on the flank, at the 3rd Red infantry and forced it to retreat.
Red infantry reinforcements continue advancing.
Red cavalry maneuvers abandoning the road and advances.
Turn 4
Blue artillery, supported by the skirmishers, fired on the 1st Red cavalry and the 3rd Blue infantry fired on the Red artillery.
The 2nd Blue infantry maneuvers to face the imminent charge of the 2nd Red Cavalry, while the 1st Blue infantry maneuvers and advances towards the crest of the hill.
Blue cavalry charges uphill again against the 3rd Red infantry and is repulsed.
The Red units that occupy the hill fire on the Blue infantry: the artillery on the 3rd and the infantry on the 1st.
Meanwhile, near the road, the Red infantry reinforcement units maneuver and continue advancing.
The 1st Squadron of Red cavalry charges the Blue artillery and is repulsed, the 2nd Squadron charges the 2nd Blue
infantry, it is also repulsed.
Turn 5
On the hill, the 1st Blue infantry fired on the 3rd Red infantry, the 3rd Blue infantry on the artillery and the 2nd Blue infantry on the 2nd Red cavalry.
Meanwhile, from the woods and surroundings, the skirmishers and the Blue artillery fired on the 1st Red cavalry.
The Blue cavalry charges uphill, on the flank, to the 3rd Red infantry, forcing it to retreat.
Red artillery fires on the 3rd Blue infantry.
Red infantry reinforcements continue to maneuver and advance.
The 1st Red cavalry charges the Blue artillery again, is defeated and disbands. The 2nd Red cavalry charges the 2nd
Blue infantry and forces it back.
Turn 6
Blue artillery fires at the 2nd Red infantry flank, the 3rd Blue infantry fires at the Red artillery destroying it and the
2nd Blue infantry fires at the 2nd Red cavalry.
The skirmishers leave the woods and the 1st Blue infantry occupies the hill.
The Blue cavalry charges and destroys the 3rd Red infantry.
The 2nd Red infantry advances towards the hill while the 1st maneuvers and advances towards the forest.
The 2nd Red cavalry charges and destroys the 2nd Blue Infantry.
Turn 7
The 1st Red infantry fired at the skirmishers.
The skirmishers return fire, while the Blue artillery fires at the rear of the 2nd Red infantry.
Blue infantry units maneuver to face the enemy units that threaten them.
The 2nd Red infantry advances towards the hill.
Blue cavalry advances to the aid of the skirmishers. Red cavalry maneuvers to attack the Blue infantry.
Turn 8
Red infantry fires against the units in front.
The skirmishers fire on the 1st Red infantry while the artillery and the 1st Blue infantry fire on the 2nd Red infantry.
Red cavalry charges the 3rd Blue infantry, it is repulsed.
Blue cavalry charges the 1st Red infantry from the rear, and is also repulsed.
Turn 9
The 2nd Red infantry fires at the 1st Blue infantry
The skirmishers fire on the 1st Red infantry while the artillery and the 1st Blue infantry fire on the 2nd Red infantry.
The 3rd Blue infantry fired against Red cavalry.
The 1st Red infantry maneuvers to defend itself from the cavalry charge.
Blue cavalry charges the 1st Red infantry and is repulsed.
Red cavalry charges the 3rd Blue infantry, is defeated and destroyed.
Turn 10
The artillery and the 1st Blue infantry fired at the 2nd Red infantry. The skirmishers fired at the 1st Red infantry.
The 2nd Red infantry fires on the 1st Blue infantry and the 1st Red infantry fires on Blue cavalry.
The 3rd Blue infantry maneuvers and advances towards the hill.
Blue cavalry charges the 1st Red infantry and forces it to retreat.
Turn 11
The two infantry units and the Blue artillery fired against the 2nd Red infantry that was attacking the hill.
The 2nd Red infantry fires on the 1st Blue infantry and the 1st Red infantry fires on Blue cavalry.
Blue cavalry charges the 1st Red infantry, is defeated and destroyed.
Turn 12
The 2nd Red infantry fired at the 1st infantry, which in turn returned the shots supported by the artillery.
The 1st Red infantry maneuvers to cover one of its flanks with the woods. The skirmishers maneuver to face him.
The 3rd Blue infantry charges the 2nd Red infantry on the flank and destroys it.
Turn 13
The 1st Red infantry fired at the skirmishers who returned fire, destroying it and ending the game.
Victory for the Blue side!
Link to 1st Game gallery
postimg.cc/gallery/9Mc2fWQ
Link to 2nd Game gallery
postimg.cc/gallery/YY96mgy
