Bavarians and the Current State

While I cannot speak for others, I occasionally fall into a period where there is so much on my wargaming plate that thoughts explode on possibilities and works pile up. Without concentrated focus, the wheels of progress wind up spinning with limited traction.  Anyone else suffer from too many ideas and not enough time or energy to tackle them all?

I notice this sense of falling behind correlates closely on the heels of hosting a game and tapping out a long battle report.  Both require a lot of work.  These two efforts can leave my energy levels depleted for a few days.  Last week's Agnadello game with Richard (see Agnadello, Rematch) is the latest such example.

Before I had a chance to catch my breath, another Agnadello battle played out on the table in a rematch on Tuesday.  Another interesting and exciting battle whose tale is yet to be told.

Battle of Agnadello

After today's task of clearing the gaming table of Great Italian Wars, the plan is to pull out the Old West gunfighters for a game or two.  Now, these figures have not seen action in more than 20 years.  

I will dig up my playtest copy of Bryan Ansell's The Rules With No Name to see what I remember from hosting gunfights all of those years ago.  I have been making character cards and a QRS and should be prepared to host a few remote games in a week or two.  Rather than historical, big battle scenarios, we will try our hands at something more lighthearted and Hollywood.  Tentatively, the plan is to host a few cross-group remote games.  I think it will be a fun change of pace for all involved.  Hopefully, I can get up to speed on the rules quickly enough to present a seemingly smooth game.

Besides gaming, there are two GWS2024 analyses in work.  Preliminary data wrangling is complete.  Now, just need to write up the findings.

Among the books arriving in-house over the holidays, one title delivered last week was Ford and Hutchinson's, The Fundamentals of Tabletop Miniatures Game Design.  While weighing-in at 241 pages, the book is a quick read containing a number of interesting ideas and thought-provoking commentary.  For me, the first section, Miniatures as Medium, especially deserves further exploration and counterpoints before delving into the remaining two sections.

What about Bavarians?  Oh yeah!  I ended 2024 with a satisfying flourish of painting activity that will be detailed once I get around to the Year in Review painting round-up.  Figures are stacking up at the photo booth but I managed to push out a 23-figure regiment of Bavarian infantry today.

Foot figures are Lancashire Games led by a Eureka mounted colonel.  Lots more SYW/WAS units mustering out soon including British, French, and Spanish.

Until next time...

Agnadello, The Rematch!

Reject Richard joined me on Monday for a rematch of our recent Agnadello battle (Richard's Battle Account and Jon's Battle Account).  In that contest, my French Army won a major victor against Richard's Venetian Army.  In post-battle discussion, we suggested that a rematch was in order.  We decided to swap sides and refight the battle looking from the other side of the table.  Now, Richard has already posted a superb account of our rematch (see Agnadello Rematch).  Really, if you have not already read Richard's account, pop over to his blog and read the battle through his eyewitness account and keyboard.  Great stuff!  While the game only lasted about two hours and ticked off only four turns, those four turns were packed with action from the opening salvo. 

Armies deployed and ready for battle.

Having re-read the historical battle accounts and watched on as Mark and then Richard commanded the Venetian Left Wing, I waffled over whether sending Carpi over the ditch on Turn 1 to confront Chamont was the prudent move.  After careful consideration, rather than standing behind the ditch and being shot to pieces by all of the missile fire from the French, the best strategy was to wade the ditch and bring the enemy to battle.  For the French on a time schedule, I figured King Louis would begin the battle on the attack.

On to battle!

Carpi waits behind the ditch
with Alviano in the background.

Venetian pike blocks at the ready.

The French Army prepares to advance.

As both armies are set into motion, Alviano sends his skirmishers across the ditch to take up positions in the vineyards.  Hopefully these skirmishers will slow the delivery of the King's blow against the Venetian Right.  Chamont, on the French Right, steps off toward Carpi's Venetians positioned beyond the ditch.  Taking missile fire from Gascon crossbowmen, Carpi sends his two pike blocks into the ditch in an effort to drive back the French.  As the leftmost pike block negotiates the ditch, the body of crossbowmen continues sending volleys into the Venetians.  Coming up out of the ditch, the pikemen attack into the vineyard to dislodge the enemy.   

Skirmishers occupy the vineyard as the King advances.

Venetian pike into the ditch!

Reminded of Richard's previous game success with his Stradiot attack against the French guns in the center, I opt for the same tactic.  Rather than seeing French guns overrun and crews cut down, Richard's French guns drop some horsemen and disorder the Stradiots before they can fully launch the attack.  I find no success in this attack and the Venetian Stradiots are driven off with great loss.  Sigh.

Stradiots repulsed!

With Carpi’s Provisionati Square coming up and out of the ditch and into the enemy positioned in the vineyard , the Venetians successfully eject the Gascons from the vineyard sending them to the rear in disorder.  Plowing ahead, the Italians run into a Swiss pike block and a body of supporting crossbow.  As the Venetians close, the crossbowmen manage to get off an ineffective shot before the two pike blocks clash.  Fighting through the Swiss dopplesoldners, the pikemen push forward as the dopplesoldners fall to the rear of the formation.  Despite putting up stiff resistance, the Swiss are pushed back toward the main road.  The now isolated Gascons retreat in sympathy.  The victorious Italians fail to pursue.     

Gascons fall back in front of Venetians...

as the Venetians contact the Swiss. 

Swiss fall back!

Perhaps a little embarrassed by being pushed back by the Italians, the Swiss regroup and then charge into the vineyard.  The Venetians are ejected and tumble back down into the ditch.  The Swiss pursue.  In an extended push of pike between the Swiss and Venetians, the Venetians are forced back once again.  Casualties are heavy with the Swiss losing about two-thirds of their strength.

The Swiss counterattack...

driving the Italians back into the ditch.

Carpi's Cernite Square, on the right, steps into the action by attacking out of a vineyard and into more Gascon crossbow.  While suffering light casualties as they close, the Italians send the Gascons scurrying for the rear.  The Italians do not let up.  In pursuit, many of the Gascons are scattered.  Not much of Chamont's command remains on the field.

Gascons under attack!

Pursuit and annihilation.

Chamont's command is tattered.

Seeing that Alviano is moving his pike blocks up to reinforce Carpi's success on the Left and sensing the battle is slipping away, the King counters by setting his French and Swiss pike blocks into motion.  Leading the advance, mounted crossbowmen clear the vineyards of enemy skirmishers.

Light cavalry move up to challenge enemy skirmishers...

and succeed!

King Louis is not the only commander sensing opportunity.  With thoughts of halting the King's advance, Alviano attacks!  First his Stradiots drive off enemy light cavalry as Alviano and his MAA emerge from the cover of the woods.  Alviano charges the nearest enemy light cavalry and they disappear under the Venetians' hooves.  Facing a French pike block, Alviano pulls up and does not pursue.  

Enemy crossbow are driven back as Alviano charges.

A second body of enemy mounted crossbow are dispatched...

but no pursuit.

While cavalry clashes are swirling on the French Left, Chamont, on the French Right, attacks in an effort to salvage the situation he faces.  Leading his Gendarmes forward, Chamont crashes into Carpi and his MAA.  The initial impact sends Carpi backwards.  Chamont pursues.  Catching the Italian MAA as they retire, Carpi turns around to face his opponent.  In a melee that seems to last forever, Chamont finally drives Carpi and his MAA off.  The Italian heavy horsemen are no match for French Gendarmes.  Watching as Chamont drives off enemy MAA, what is left of the Swiss pike block advances back into the ditch.  There it strikes the enemy pike block and drives the Italians back away from the ditch.

Chamont vs Carpi!

Carpi retreats but is able to regroup to face Chamont.

A lengthy melee, that is one for the record books,
 ends in victory for Chamont.

Swiss in action...

successfully drive back the enemy!

Returning to the French Left, seeing that Alviano hesitates, the King orders the pikemen forward.  In a quick clash, the French are repulsed, no worse the wear for their effort.  As the enemy retires, Alviano seizes this opportunity to pursue. Rather than targeting the pike block, Alviano is after the King!  Skirting the French pike block, Alviano's pursuit is stopped by the King and his Gendarmes.  Alviano's MAA are no match for the King's Gendarmes.  Alviano recoils with the King in hot pursuit.  Alviano cannot make good his escape.  He and his MAA are caught from behind.  His MAA are cut down.  Alviano barely escapes and seeks safe harbor with the nearby Stradiots.  The King wheels and strikes the Stradiots from the side.  Alviano's light cavalry are scattered and Alviano falls dead on the field!   

French pike attack...

but are repulsed.

Alviano pursues into the King's Gendarmes,...

his MAA are cut down...

and Alviano falls in battle!

What looked like the possibility for a Venetian triumph early on, the battle has turned.  Jumping back over to the French Right, Chamont continues his pursuit of Carpi.  This time, the wavering Italian horsemen are defeated but Carpi escapes to seek refuse within the Italian pike block.  The Swiss are not yet finished either.  Again, they attack the Italians.  Again, the Italians retire.  With both flanks turned and Alviano dead on the field, Carpi orders a general withdrawal to save what is left of this army. 

Chamont attacks!

Swiss attack!

Battle is over...

As mentioned in the opening paragraph, this refight of Agnadello saw non-stop action from the opening exchanges.  While lasting about two hours, the fighting and drama were ever present and the turns whizzed by.

Butcher's Bill

Congratulations to Richard for a very well-earned victory.  I thought the Venetians had a chance when Carpi drove straight into the French Right and scattered much of that wing.  That sense of victory was fleeting, however.  Richard came roaring back to secure a decisive victory.  Those darn Swiss and French Gendarmes are tough opponents to stop.  I certainly could not stop them on this day.

Outstanding fight!  Thank you, Richard!  Very good fun and the Venetians could have been contenders.  Almost.  Perhaps on another day. 

Year in Review: Games Played

Gaming in 2024 saw a shift in both frequency and emphasis.  While 2023 rang up 103 games played, 2024 managed to count 76 games played.  I may have actually shorted myself a game or two in the process by forgetting to make a record on the Scheduled Games page. I got most of the games counted, though.  Despite the drop in games played, still, gaming frequency averaged about three games every two weeks.  Not too shabby but not at the levels seen over the past three years.

On emphasis, I wound up hosting a lot more in 2024 than in prior years.  For a variety of circumstances, remote hosting by others dropped off.  While previous years may have seen me participating in more remote games than hosting, 2024 saw me pick up the hosting mantle and host 47 of the 76 games played.  That total comes close to averaging about one game per week.  This sum is not too shabby either!  Whatever the cause of decreased gaming and increased hosting, the balance seems about right and sustainable.  

Let's get on with the games played review!  In a gaming retrospective, these 76 games were distributed over a variety of rules and periods.  I take a look at each area individually. 

Rules

In 2023, the 103 games saw 23 different rulesets hitting the table.  How about in 2024?  Well, the number of rules in use dropped dramatically from 23 to 14.  Of course, given that my participation in games of others dropped, this is not surprising.  I tend to host games using rules (often my own variant) that I can confidently umpire and direct.  The table below shows Counts of Games Played by Rules Choice in 2024 for details.

As in previous years, the Top 3 rules used were my variations on Basic Impetvs (BI) and Fields of Honor (FoH), and Commands & Colors Ancients (CCA).  Most of the CCA battles were fought using Scott's armies in 28mm.  More than 76% of all games were contained to these three rulesets.  Note that all of the Top 3 rules are hex-based.  

Basic Impetvs was definitely the favorite ruleset out on the gaming table in 2024.  Over 40% of all games played utilized the BI game engine.  BI remains popular since I have a number of 28mm armies from different periods that all are designed and based for these rules.  Both the last game of 2024 and the first game of 2025 use BI.  

Scanning down the list of rules, most rules in use are either self-published or commercial with customized variants.  Even Basic Impetvs aficionados might flinch at seeing my BI variant transported to a grid.  The gathered collection of gamers mostly leans toward the rules' tinkerers end of the spectrum.  

Wargaming Period

What if these total games played are broken out by wargaming period?  Were there popular periods in 2024 or were all games offered an equal opportunity for employment?

While the graphic above shows that 14 different periods saw action, the Top four periods were Ancients, Great Italian Wars, Feudal Japan, and War of Austrian Succession.  Unlike 2023, a couple of Napoleonic games actually made it onto the schedule.  Not my 28s, though.  I must try to bring that collection up for battle in 2025.  Given that participants never utter a negative word on either rules or period, I reckon I could get away with bringing just about anything to the table!  Maybe I will lay some Western Gunfights, FIW, or another test of jungle warfare in 1898 Cuba on the unsuspecting? 

Memorable Moments

Games played can make a memorable mark for any of a number of reasons.  This year, I focus on a general theme of battles fought repeatedly with a variety of participants.  Which games saw three or more outings in 2024?  This list includes:

Battle of Madonna dell'Olmo: War of Austrian Succession - 3 games.

Battle of Lake Trasimene: 2nd Punic War - 6 games. 

Battle of Sanguetta: Great Italian Wars - 5 games.

Battle of Fornovo: Great Italian Wars - 5 games.

Battle of Bassignana: War of Austrian Succession - 5 games.

Water Fight: Sumerian Wars - 4 games. 

Battle of Cheriton: English Civil War - 6 games.

Battle of Shiloh: American Civil War - 5 games.

Battle of Mikata Ga Hara: Samurai Battles - 4 games.

1st Battle of Azukizaka: Samurai Battles - 4 games.

Of course, every game has memorable moments but with repeated playings, one gets a deep understanding of the battle, its likely direction, and possible outcome. 2024 was a very good year at the gaming table.

If you participated in any of these battles or simply read the battle reports, which game stands out to you?

The next time I return to the yearly review, I dig into the Painting Log and see what 2024 held.  Did I make my goal of 750 painted figures?