Having completed sufficient rebases and paintings of my 10mm FPW, I have decided to have a solo go at Walter Schnaffs, the FPW adaptation of Square Bashing. Firstly I built two forces, representing equal point divisions, then worked through the pre-battle phase and events. This resulted in the Prussians attacking with the strategic focus of breaking through the French line. The defending French meanwhile had lost more than half their troops to the reserves, and a few bases had permanently disappeared. The Prussians opened the battle with a successful barrage asset on an occupied wood within grabbing distance of a small knoll (objective). This was followed by a general advance, ignoring terrain as the pre-battle event of doing so during the first move had been achieved. Some photos to illustrate this opening - note the mitrailleuse deployed in the grand manor (objective) and the main Prussian thrust on the French left flank:
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g440/dourpuritan/Figurephotos2011/FPWphotos10mm/IMG_1950_zpsf0xhgxdj.jpg)
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g440/dourpuritan/Figurephotos2011/FPWphotos10mm/IMG_1951_zpsvjwwcciw.jpg)
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g440/dourpuritan/Figurephotos2011/FPWphotos10mm/IMG_1954_zps2smctpq9.jpg)
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g440/dourpuritan/Figurephotos2011/FPWphotos10mm/IMG_1956_zpskokdfxmq.jpg)
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g440/dourpuritan/Figurephotos2011/FPWphotos10mm/IMG_1957_zpstqn5fufm.jpg)
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g440/dourpuritan/Figurephotos2011/FPWphotos10mm/IMG_1958_zpsflh8rak3.jpg)
Beautiful Leman!
Great stuff, Andy.
Cheers - Phil
That looks really good.
Good one
I tried SB using the the RJW lists
I went through the pre-battle phase 20 times and every time the Russians were the attackers by a huge margin
Minis are very nice.
Terrain is very nice.
The paper building look very nice.
Very nice indeed.
Very nice indeed
Take care
Andy
Looks fantastic Leman
Like your flexible depiction of the built up areas - a base "tile" and then individually mounted buildings - really good idea.
Thanks everyone; the French have just launched their one and only barrage of the battle with mixed success. They overshot the infantry target, instead hitting and damaging two Prussian batteries, then they were able to bring on a reserve unit of infantry, only to then roll a 1 for the game count down. For any real chance they need to roll 5s or 6s act this point.
Simply delightful. Are they 4" squares?
Looking really good! =D> =D>
I have been back looking at that table and find it quite inspiring, I am going to have a dabble!
Like it, Andy. :-bd Lots of stuff to dwell on. Where did you get the town / BUA tiles? I'm currently using square cork tiles but would like to upgrade these. :)
That looks really lovely!
Excellent!
Some responses:
1. The cloth is from Simon Millar's Big Red Bat shop. It is 5'x3' and divided into 6" squares. The cloth is actually made by Deep Cut Studios in Lithuania, but Simon imports several sizes with different size squares. I like the cloths so much that I bought another of a different design 6'x4', also with 6" squares, that I have used for larger battles and with larger and smaller scale figures.
2. The terrain tiles are produced by Deep Cut in mouse mat material. These are illustrated on the website as coming in 8" squares, however they run a custom order service, so I requested 6"x12" tiles for use with Square Bashing. Worth it for me as I now play FPW, RJW, 1914, RCW and RPW and will be hoping to do Boer War as well. Deep Cut have supplied other players with SB terrain tiles so are familiar with that request.
3. The buildings are a mix of Peter Dennis card, Irregular Miniatures metal, Time Cast and Total Battle Miniatures resin. All are 6mm scale. Other terrain is S and A Scenics trees, hills and a smaller BUA tile in MDF. Roads are rubber, produced about 25 years ago by Old Glory and explosions by Gale Force 9.
:-bd =D> :-bd
Very stylish and nicely put together, Leman. Thanks for the list of the resources you provided.
Moving on from a solo try out, where I virtually forced the French into defence, causing them to lose too many units to start with, I had my first game against a live opponent today. Although the French were still the defenders, the attack points difference was not so large, so they hung on to more troops on table and had some good luck with reserves coming on as well. Furthermore the Prussians had a lot less luck with their corps artillery (off-table) bombardment - we concluded that the ground was soft so no damage was caused to the French and the barrage asset was used up. This resulted in the French left remaining strong and throwing back a determined Prussian assault which had looked certain to succeed - 14 dice v 5 dice. The French had better luck both in inflicting and saving casualties. The Prussian cavalry charge downhill met with better success.
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g440/dourpuritan/Figurephotos2011/FPWphotos10mm/IMG_1966_zps8omk2pxs.jpg)
From the previous battle - The French artillery overshoot barrage which had unintended consequences:
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g440/dourpuritan/Figurephotos2011/FPWphotos10mm/IMG_1961_zps9jzthnhj.jpg)
Wow
Very nice indeed
Take care
Andy
it looks cracking good.
i like the top-down trees on the wood template and how you've combined with model trees.
8)
Cheers - Phil
In the second game, which has just started, the French are the defenders again. This time, however, they have elected to have a fort:
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g440/dourpuritan/Figurephotos2011/FPWphotos10mm/IMG_1982_zpsruuqwwjm.jpg)
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g440/dourpuritan/Figurephotos2011/FPWphotos10mm/IMG_1981_zpskx529l1l.jpg)
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g440/dourpuritan/Figurephotos2011/FPWphotos10mm/IMG_1980_zpsdvkf0fm6.jpg)
In reality the fort covers the whole of the BUA.
Sedan or Verdun?
Nice looking game. Interesting read as well.
MickS
that looks great. really nicely put together.
so when are you going to demo' FPW Sq.Bashing at Battleground? :)
Hi Roy 2018 is a possibility, once I've spent some money on the house and then see where I stand financially. It would involve trains and overnight accommodation.
Will - I was actually thinking of the smaller outer ring forts around Paris in this scenario, September 1870 when the army still bore a resemblance to the Imperial forces.
:)
I was only having you on Leman. Though I am conscious of the costs and hardships involved in 'doing' the shows.
Stu asked if I'd come on board the Colonel Bill's show trade staff, but the long hours and heavy travel (not to mention the fact they sometimes have to miss meals) meant that I had to decline the job offer. And the chaps I know who put on games at Newark have to over-night it, and the costs far outweigh any benefit of recognition to my mind.
Once the costs are sorted the enjoyment of the events outweighs them, but when you're on a pension penury constantly beckons unless you plan ahead with some self-discipline. Over the next 6 months I've got a family wedding in Greenwich, Colours at Newbury , where I'm running a WWII participation game (yes, I know, even Mr. pre-1925 has to drop the guise from time to time), another participation at Abingdon and a walking holiday in Northumberland, plus some building work and a new kitchen.
A busy 6 months Leman, enjoy
Cheers Paul, next up will be the Belgians and Germans for Square Bashing before a return to the 28mm Italian Wars.
Quote from: lowlylowlycook on 28 July 2017, 10:11:52 PM
Minis are very nice.
Terrain is very nice.
The paper building look very nice.
Very nice indeed.
+1
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Continue to really like the look of the games you do, Leman. The barrage hitting looked great. The gun emplacement with the naval gun crews is particularly good.
Thanks all - and isn't it great to see that fort available again. I am also looking at Bruce Weigle's 1871 rules which are a streamlined fast play version of his original 1870 rules. One of the attractions of this set is the opportunity to play some of the small scale actions and battles at company level. Ignore the basing instructions if your troops are based up differently as, unusually, the bases do not operate in contact with one another. These rules work particularly well with 10mm figures and smaller (I'm looking at some 6mm and 2mm scenarios - the latter in the APW, as all his previous rule sets and scenarios are compatible with the 1871 mechanisms.He is also going to issue play sheets for 1859 and 1866 as free downloads.). I'm also looking at doing some of the scenarios using cms instead of inches to enable me to put some of the scenarios on a 6x4 table. I'll do a write up when I've done that with my opinions as to whether that's a viable option. Meanwhile it's back to Spicheren on Friday to finish that BBB scenario off and write up the AAR.
Thanks for the feedback on the 1871 rules Leman. I will have to have a good read through, as I would love to use them for a lot of the small actions that you mentioned.